Watched all of Steins Gate with a friend this weekend. It was amazing. Sure it’s not brilliantly directed or thematically dense or full of tantalizing ambiguities, but it creates a bunch of likable characters firmly entrenched in archetypes and does a damn good job developing them through a compelling, twisty story. It’s not a subversive show, never forgetting what the audience would expect of its characters or being brave enough to deliver a less than happy ending, but it is a confident one. It knows the parameters it’s dealing with and knows how to tell an incredible story within them, even making the bonds (especially between the three main characters) appear to be deeper than they are.
Anyways, the themes may be just a cherry on top — but often the cherry on top is the best part. That’s the case here. I find Steins Gate at its best when it’s not telling the story, but diving into how the story effects those involved. The amount of trauma the protagonist goes through, and how it’s portrayed by utilizing the repetitive medium of tv, can be truly harrowing when it’s pushed to its limit. Easily my favorite moment of the show comes at the end of episode 19, when the main guy basically says fuck it and let’s his evil genius out. Suddenly I was almost wondering just what level he’s masochistically enjoying this torment. It’s probably one of the only moments in the show that will truly stick with me beyond just ‘holy shit that was so much fun to watch!’.
Anyways this movie is a fine little epilogue (Note: rating only represents the movie, the show is like high 8-low 9 territory). It basically takes the show’s story and emphasizes the unspoken pain it would have caused to the main character through his partner. It’s an interesting concept, and some scenes of just them talking are great, but overall it feels a bit compressed. The way the puzzle is solved is the one moment this entire weekend I was unsatisfied by a Steins Gate plot point. I think this probably should have been at least 2.5 hours to fully explore how the character’s deal with, reflect, and move on from the shows trauma as well as giving us a satisfying story.
Overall I really loved the show. I can already feel it sticking with me less and less, but in the moment it felt like basically the greatest thing ever. Guess I was a bit spoiled by beginning my anime watching with something as subversive, ambiguous, fascinating, and psychological as Evangelion. Steins Gate is incredible even if it’s not great art. I shouldn’t complain too much.
Watched all of Steins Gate with a friend this weekend. It was amazing. Sure it’s not brilliantly directed or thematically dense or full of tantalizing ambiguities, but it creates a bunch of likable characters firmly entrenched in archetypes and does a damn good job developing them through a compelling, twisty story. It’s not a subversive show, never forgetting what the audience would expect of its characters or being brave enough to deliver a less than happy ending, but it is a confident one. It knows the parameters it’s dealing with and knows how to tell an incredible story within them, even making the bonds (especially between the three main characters) appear to be deeper than they are.
Anyways, the themes may be just a cherry on top — but often the cherry on top is the best part. That’s the case here. I find Steins Gate at its best when it’s not telling the story, but diving into how the story effects those involved. The amount of trauma the protagonist goes through, and how it’s portrayed by utilizing the repetitive medium of tv, can be truly harrowing when it’s pushed to its limit. Easily my favorite moment of the show comes at the end of episode 19, when the main guy basically says fuck it and let’s his evil genius out. Suddenly I was almost wondering just what level he’s masochistically enjoying this torment. It’s probably one of the only moments in the show that will truly stick with me beyond just ‘holy shit that was so much fun to watch!’.
Anyways this movie is a fine little epilogue (Note: rating only represents the movie, the show is like high 8-low 9 territory). It basically takes the show’s story and emphasizes the unspoken pain it would have caused to the main character through his partner. It’s an interesting concept, and some scenes of just them talking are great, but overall it feels a bit compressed. The way the puzzle is solved is the one moment this entire weekend I was unsatisfied by a Steins Gate plot point. I think this probably should have been at least 2.5 hours to fully explore how the character’s deal with, reflect, and move on from the shows trauma as well as giving us a satisfying story.
Overall I really loved the show. I can already feel it sticking with me less and less, but in the moment it felt like basically the greatest thing ever. Guess I was a bit spoiled by beginning my anime watching with something as subversive, ambiguous, fascinating, and psychological as Evangelion. Steins Gate is incredible even if it’s not great art. I shouldn’t complain too much.
